Saturday, May 21, 2016

The Beautiful Pretender

GIVEAWAY

DICKERSON, MELANIE
THE BEAUTIFUL PRETENDER

After inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king's approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn't select her as his bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina's best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can't deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse -- far deadlier -- consequences.

My Review:

Beauty and the Beast meets The Bachelor -- let the games begin!

Melanie Dickerson has such a talent for tweaking well-loved fairy tales into something fresh and new. I was thrilled to return to Thornbeck and become reacquainted with some favourite characters -- people I met in The Huntress of Thornbeck. If you've read that book you'll be happy to know that Odette and Jorgen play a significant role in this story. Don't worry if you haven't read the first book in The Medieval Fairy Tale Novels series though, The Beautiful Pretender reads wonderfully as a standalone as well.

There something so captivating about a 'beastly' hero. Reinhart may be a bit of a grumpy recluse but you can be sure there's a tender heart beating within that manly chest. It just takes a certain heroine to bring his softer side out into the open.

Avelina is boldly outspoken, endearingly kind and a little too attracted to the margrave for her own good. It seems the harder she tries to divert his attention, the more captivated Reinhart becomes. Oh what a tangled web we weave...

There's tension and drama and sweet romance. Diabolical villains to subdue and a forest of bloodthirsty wolves to best. Not to mention a treacherous plot to thwart before these two have a hope of a happily ever after. A delectable read from beginning to end.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity Group for providing me with a copy of this book.


GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Beautiful Pretender please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 22 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The author and publisher are holding their own giveaway -- check out the link below to enter.

beautiful pretender - prize collage


Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie's blog.
beautiful pretender - enter banner

35 comments:

  1. Yay for the beastly heroes!!! :)

    Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. LOL. Yes, we think alike. Good luck, Janka.

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  2. Interesting there's a beauty and the beast element, since she already adapted that fairy tale. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Jafuchi7(at)hawaii(dot)edu

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    1. Yes -- and she also says Princess and the Pea...but I related more to Beauty and the Beast. Good luck Artist Librarian.

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  3. It's awesome! Good luck, Kate.

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  4. She's good. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom.

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  5. I loved fairy tales, when I was a child and I always enjoy the retold or modernized ones. This one sounds like an enjoyable book.
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Me too -- it's fun to revisit childhood in a different way. Good luck, Kay.

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  6. What a book! Thanks, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  7. Beauty and the Beast meets the Bachelor? I am completely intrigued now. This one is on my TBR list. Thanks for the review and giveaway!
    momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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    1. It's a great concept. Good luck, Loraine.

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  8. After my daughter and I read The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, we both agreed the Margrave needed a good woman. We were delighted to find his romance is featured in The Beautiful Pretender, which I'm hoping to read soon. Thanks for featuring it here. Melanie's books are wonderful.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. I had the exact same thought and was just as delighted. He held promise in The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. Now I'm hoping that a new character in this one is featured in the next book. Good luck, Pam.

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  9. I have not read the first book ~ should I win and receive this second story, I know I will need to read the first too! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net [I claim this as a "historical fiction" in my favorite genre :D ~ thanks for your review.]

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    1. It's the best of both worlds -- historical fiction and fairy tale retelling. Good luck, Kathleen.

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  10. Ah, to live in such a time as this.Such a magical time. I can at least dream, right ?

    Deanne P.
    Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

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    1. Magical until you contemplate personal hygiene. LOL Good luck, Deanne.

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  11. This book sounds SO good! Also, can I just say that I love the name Avelina? :-)

    mylittlebirdie (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. I know -- Melanie`s names are always interesting. She must have researched the time period and Germany. Very cool. Good luck, Karen.

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  12. Love these fairy tale novels by Melanie! Please enter me. : )

    sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com

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    1. She`s found a niche for herself, that`s for sure. Good luck, Cathy.

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  13. This is one author that I enjoy reading everything she writes. I always pass them on to girlfriends, especially those with teen/young adult daughters. tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I've loved every one of her books as well, Terrill. Bless you for passing them on. Good luck!

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  14. I've enjoyed the books I've read by Melanie Dickerson so far. I love the way she writes the fairytale retellings. This book sounds great and I would love to read it! Thanks for having the giveaway!

    ~Alisha L.
    lishy2193 (at) aol (dot) com

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  15. Beauty and the Beast is still one of my favorite Disney type movies, I think because I've always had a soft heart for the underdogs! And a darkly brooding hero just ups the romantic tension for me; especially when you know there's a gentle spirit somewhere in there & it makes you want to bring it out :-) Fatal attraction anyone? Be still my beating heart :-)

    I do have "The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest" (yet to be read)so I'm super excited to know this ties into it! I wasn't aware of that :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Totally agree! Brooding heroes with tender hearts are the bestest. Good luck, Trixi.

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  16. Beauty and the Beast meets The Bachelor -- sounds fun! I am looking forward to reading Melanie's books. Thank you for the chance!
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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  17. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Melanie Dickerson's books! I've read every one she's ever written and it goes without saying that her new releases always shoot straight to the top of my reading list. I can't wait for this one! I'm SO EXCITED!! YAY!!!!
    J.C. -Indiana-

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    1. I'm with you, J.C. Love all her books too. Good luck!

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  18. fabulous review, Kav!! (as always) The Merchant's Daughter (her previous Beauty & the Beast tale) has always been my fave but The Beautiful Pretender is giving it some serious competition!!

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  19. This book sounds wonderful, I would love to win. Thank you for this great giveaway!

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